[Lifestyle in university students during confinement by COVID-19].

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthy eating and lifestyles.

Objective: To determine the impact on diet and lifestyle in university students in the health area of the border areas of Mexico (Tamaulipas and Chiapas) during the confinement by COVID-19.

Material and methods: This study was observational, descriptive, analytical, comparative cross-sectional, with convenience sampling with 409 students, 48.7% (199) from Tamaulipas, and 51.3% (210) from Chiapas. A survey with 30 items related to eating behavior and lifestyle was applied.

Results: found an increase in obesity in Tamaulipas from 7.5% to 8.5% and in overweight in the state of Chiapas from 21.9% to 24.8% (p=0.001). A decrease in healthy eating was observed during confinement from 61.3% to 52.8% in Tamaulipas (p = 0.05) and from 70.5% to 57.1% in Chiapas (p = 0.001), with consumption of high carbohydrate foods (41.7%) and ultra-high-fat foods predominating on the northern border. processed (13.1%), while for the southern border there was a higher consumption of fruits and vegetables (35.2%) (p = 0.06). On both borders, physical activity decreased during confinement from 61.8% to 60.3% in Tamaulipas (p = 0.09) and 69.5% to 61.0% in Chiapas (p = 0.06). 52.3% and 52.4% of students in Tamaulipas and Chiapas also reported waking up during the night (p = 0.98).

Conclusions: The diet and lifestyle of university students from the border areas of Mexico were affected during the confinement by COVID-19 with a decrease in the perception of healthy eating, an increase in the number of meals and a tendency to decrease in the number of meals. consumption of alcohol, tobacco and physical activity.